Machine for splitting blanks for shovels



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.,

A. B. SMITH. MACHINE FOR SPLITTING BLANKS FOR SHOVELS. N0. 372,497. Patented NOV. 1, 1887..

Witnesses: Ema-115W, MM O..M 19 M aw M (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. B. SMITH. MACHINE FOR SPLITTING BLANKS FOR SHOVELS.

No. 372,497. Patented Nov. 1, 1887.

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.i,,,,,,,, 4T a W'flrmssas; Inventor, 0M /fi N. PETERS, Phololimogl'aphor. Washington. D. c.

UNiTn TATES ABIA B. SMITH, OF IITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR SPLITTING BLANKS FOR SHOVELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,497, dated November 1, 1887.

Application filed MaySl, 1887.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beitknownthat I, ABLI B. SMITILH. citizen of the United States, residing in Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Machine for Splitting Shovel-Blanks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

This machine is for the purpose of splitting the part of a shovel blank which forms the straps and socket for the handle. Instead of having the blanks stationary and employing a wedge or chisel that descends to perform the work ofsplitting, I employ a stationary wedge or chisel and force the blanks to the same in the act of splitting. In this new organization of the machine I have invented several new devices and features of improvement which V will be set forth in the following specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 rcpresentsaside view of the machine; Fig. 2, a top view of the same; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section of the machine in a plane indicated by the line 1 1, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a horizontal section of the blank lifting and holding rolls in a plane cutting through the axes of the rolls; Fig. 5, a cross'section of the rolls; Fig. 6, a side View of one of the rolls; Fig. 7, aview of one ofthe blanks to be split.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

For the purpose of lifting and carrying the blanks to the stationary wedge or chisel and holding and guiding them during the act of splitting the same, one most important feature ofmy invention consistsin two rolls, A A,which have imparted to them a reciprocating or oscillating movement upon their axes to the requisite extent to seize the blanks, move them to the stationary wedge or chisel B, and then force them against the said wedge or chisel until the strap part is split in two thereby and a cut is made in the body of the blank deep enough to form the handle-socket below the strap. These rolls also hold the blank in exactly the proper position to make the splitting exact,and they prevent the blank from swerv- Serial No. 239,843. (No model.)

ing in the least from receiving a central separation of the strap and socket parts. This is the main instrumentality for the purpose; but in addition thereto I prefer to employ an auxiliary device consisting of a movable follower or bed, 0, on which the blanks are first placed, and which is then caused to ascend by a move ment in harmony with the lifting movement of the rolls to insure complete raising of the blank and its never failing to be fully split whether the lifting or forcing rolls work fully and properly or not.

In carrying out this invention I preferably employ a construction and organization substantially as hereinafter set forth as suitable to the purpose.

In the lower part of a suitable frame, D, is mounted a driving-shaft, E, by which the lifting-rolls A A are oscillated and the follower or bed Ois raised and lowered. For oscillating the two rolls A A sufficiently on their axes by this revolving shaft E, two connectingrods, G G, extend from eccentrics or cranks a a on the driving-shaft to crank-pins b b,respectively, on the two rolls. Oscillating movement is thereby communicated to the rolls to the extent required by the rotation of the shaft. To prevent interference with each others motions one crank-pin b is on one end of one roll and the other crank-pin bis on the most distant end of the other roll, as represented; and, further, since the motion is properly given to each roll in the line of its periphery, or nearly so, to give the requisite strength of attach ment of the crank-pin to the roll, the pin is best inserted in a head, 0, made separate from the roll proper, and larger in diameter than the same,and suitably coupled thereto by a shouldered coupling or by dowels, so that it can be separated from the roll in case of breakage or injury. The placing of the crank-pin of one roll at the opposite end of the rolls from that of the other also allows the heads 0 c,respectively, to lap by the adjacent ends of the other rolls,so that sufficient diameter and strength can be given to the heads. Since the sides of the rolls which seize and carry up the blanks are subject to some wear and abrasion, I pro- Vide for changing sides and bringing unworn portions of the rolls into action by havingtwo or more crank-pins on the endof each roll, two being shown, although more may be used. When one side of the rolls becomes inj urionsl y worn, the connecting-rods are shifted to other crank-pins, thereby bringing differentsurfaces of the rolls into action.

The follower or bed 0 is situated below the rolls centrallyundcr the middle line between them. It is raised and lowered by an eccentrio, (1, on the driving-shaft E, the eccentricity being sufficient to raise the followcrmor bed as high as required to insure 'the full lifting of the blanks between the rolls. When the follower or bed is at its lowest position,-

there is sufficient room above it and below the rolls to allow .the blanks to be readily inserted before splitting and withdrawn after splitting. The eccentrics a a and d on the driving-shaft are so arranged in relation to one another that afterablank has been placed on the follower or bed the latter is first raised a little distance to bring the blank up between the rolls, so that the rolls may seize the blank and carry it to the work. The motion of the rolls is so arranged that they then raise the blank faster than the follower or bed rises and lift it from the said follower or bed.

This is the preferred movement, as it renders it unnecessary to time the motions of the rolls to that of the follower or bed, allows the said follower or bed to lead in the downward movement, and prevents any binding of the parts to interfere with the free motions of the machine. The rolls have abundant power to raise the blanks up against the wedge or chisel and to split them therewith. To insure the requisite friction between the rolls and blanks, the surfaces of the rolls have or may have corrugated or otherwise roughened surfaces, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. In order to give the greater speed to the surfaces of the rolls above that of the follower or bed, while the eccentrics on the driving-shaft may be equal, I have the centers of the crank-pins b b in line a little inward from the periphery of the rolls, as indicated in Fig. 4, so that the peripheries of the IOllS'lllOVB a little faster than the motion of the connectingrods.

Suitable guide plates, H H, are located above and at the sides of the follower or bed, and between which the said follower or bed rises to act as gages for placing and holding the blanks in the proper position to be seized by the rolls.

In order to keep the blanks exactly in the proper position between the rolls and guard against swerving laterally lengthwise of the rolls, as well as to hold the split sides from curling out of place, cheek-plates I I are formed orsecured upon therolls-two on each with a space between them just sufficient to freely admit the shankpart of the blanks, substantially as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. These cheek-plates conform to the peripheries of the rolls, and are of about half the thickness of the blanks, so that the cheek-plates of the two .rolls nearly or quite meet. These plates are preferably made separate from the rolls and secured thereto by screws or pins, so that they may be removed at will.

The wedge or chisel B is placed centrally over the space between the rolls in which the blanks are raised. It is secured firmly in a part of the frame, and has suitable adjustments to accurately centralize it between the rolls, as shown, or otherwise. The extreme lower end or edge of this wedge or chisel reaches not quite down to the horizontal line connecting the centers of the lifting'rolls, so that as it widens with the bevel edges upward the retracting peripheries of the rolls correspond therewith or increase the width of space upward, and thus allow sufficient room for spreading apart the divided part of the blanks, but keep them in normal position. As soon as the blanks are completely split, the rolls in their oscillation begin to descend at their adjacent sides, and again bring down the blanks and deposit them on the follower or bed, from which they are removed.

Among the advantages of this machine for splitting blanks. are particularly that the blanks are not only fed to the wedgeor chisel by the rolls, but these rolls hold the blanks unfailingly and absolutely in the right position, and the wedge or chisel being immovably fixed there can be no failure to split the blanks evenly, so that none are spoiled; that there is great strength in the parts, great simplicity in construction, and readiness and con venience'in operation.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a machine for splitting shovel-blanks,

the combination of a stationary splitting wedge or chisel and rolls for feeding the blanks to the said wedge or chisel.

2. The combination of a stationary wedge or chisel, rolls for feeding the blanks to the same, and a follower or bed on which the blanks are first placed and which brings the said blanks into engagement with the rolls.

3. The combination of feeding-rolls, a follower or bed to bring the blanks into engagement with the rolls, a driving-shaft, and connecting-rods connecting the said rolls and follower or bed with eccentrics on the drivingshaft.

.4. The combination of feed-rolls, an engaging follower or bed, and gage-plates between which the blanks are fed and guided to the feed-rolls.

5. The combination of a stationary splitting wedge or chisel, feed'rolls, and cheek-plates, substantially as specified, upon the faces of the feed-rolls, for the purpose herein set forth.

6. The combination of a follower or bed driven by a connecting-rod from the drivingshaft, feed rolls driven by connecting rods from the said driving-shaft, and crank-pins on the respective rolls and receiving the shaftdriving connecting-rods, the centers of the crank-pins being somewhat nearer the centers of the rolls than the peripheries of the said rolls, for the purpose set forth.

7. The feed-rolls having heads, respectively, In witness whereof I have hereunto signed 10 011 the opposite ends of the rolls and lapping my name in the presence of two subscribing by the adjacent ends of the respective rolls, Witnesses. and crank-pins in the said heads, for the purpose set forth.

8. The feed-rolls driven by connecting-rods from a driving-shaft, each roll having two or \Vitncsses: more crank-pins to receive the said eonneet- R. H. HERRON, ing-rods, for the purpose set forth. J. B. POOR.

ABIA B. SMITH. 

